Gilmore drops out of presidential race

ABC News’ Jake Tapper, Gary Langer and Z. Byron Wolf report: Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore announced today that he is no longer in the race for the Republican nomination for President. Gilmore, who recently underwent surgery to repair a detached retina, declared his candidacy last December.

"I have come to believe that it takes more than a positive vision for our nation’s future to successfully compete for the Presidency," he said.

Throughout his campaign, Gilmore was steadily behind the frontrunners in the polls. His highest level of support in any publicly released national poll was three percent. Gilmore consistently polled one percent or less in Iowa and New Hampshire. Despite his low numbers, Gilmore believes that his candidacy made a meaningful contribution.

"I am proud of the fact that my campaign focused on the issues, worked hard to block amnesty for illegal immigrants, brought attention to the need to protect private property rights, and called for a new path in Iraq that would provide our valiant military men and women with a more clearly defined and achievable mission."

It’s rumored that Gilmore may be interested in running for Senator John Warner’s (R-VA) seat should Virginia’s senior senator decide not to run for a 6th term in 2008.

It is worth noting that all three Virginia Governors who were thought to be 08 candidates for President(Mark Warner (D) and George Allen (R) are the other two) have dropped out before the first primary.